Sliding and swinging gate.



PATENTEDVJAN. a1, 1905. 11.0. PRATT. SLIDING AND 'SWINGING GATE.

arrmou on FILED 313.11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PAT-ENTED JAN.'31, "1905. I

H. 0.3mm SLIDING A-ND SWINGING GATE.-

I APPLICATION FILED IE-B. 11 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

[NV NTOR WWW @mmk Afforxeyp/ I Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. PRATT, OANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK.

SLIDING AND SWINGING GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,021, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed February 11, 1904:. Serial No. 193,140.

tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in the class of sliding and swinging gates.

The special object of my invention is to suspend the roller upon which the gate slides in such a manner as to permit a vertical pivotal movement thereof and also a trailing movement when the gate slides thereon. Said trailing movement and advantages will be hereinafter more fully described.

One form of construction embodying my improvement is illustrated in the annexed drawings, and my invention is clearly and fully described in' the following specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved gate construction. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of my construction with a part of the gate-frame broken away to show the trailing movement-of the roller. Fig. 4; is a perspective View of my improved gatehanger. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same with the parts separated. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of gate construction. Fig. 7 is a top plan view thereof.

In the several views like letters of reference designate similar parts of my construction.

A in the drawings represents agate-frame of ordinary rectangular form and preferably provided with a brace 64.

B B designate the crossing members secured to said frame, said crossing members comprising wires, as shown, or any other form of fencing material, as pickets, netting,

or the like. The wires B are preferably twisted, as shown, and provided with the loops 6, in which a spike or other suitable implement may be inserted to more tightly twist the same when they become slack.

A A are bracing-bars secured to the top and bottom of said frame and preferably extending the entire'length thereof. The gateframe is bent bodily longitudinally out of a plane, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

and is held rigidly in this condition of stress described.

O O designate the supporting-posts for the gate, the former being provided with my improved hanger D and a guide 0, while the latter is provided with a hook 0, adapted to support the free end of the gate when closed. The hanger D comprises a frame D D adapted to support a roller E, upon which the gate slides, said roller being provided with a flange 6, adapted to guide said track A. The part D of said frame is U-shaped and preferably cast in one piece, the same being provided With the slightly-hooked projection d, the projection cl, and the stem 0Z while the part D comprises a plate provided with orifices d and d", adapted to fit over said projections d and cl, respectively, on said part D, and Y d is a pin adapted to be inserted in the projection d to hold the parts D and D to gether.

F is a screw-eye adapted to be secured in the post O and to receive the stem OZ of the frame D D said stem being retained therein by a pin and washer H and G, respectively. Thus it is apparent that the roller E is permitted a hinged movement, which in turn permits the swinging movement'of the gate. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the pin H is inserted in the stem 6Z2, parallel to the axis of the roller E, with the result that a slight swinging movement of the frame and roller is permitted when the gate slides. This swinging movement is universal or in all directions, as will be seen from an examination l of the drawings, and the eye F is preferably i made of round material bent into circular form, so that the central aperture of the eye flares upwardly and also downwardly, thus facilitating the play of the stem (Z therein. The advantage of this swinging or trailing movement is well recognized in that it permits the gate to slide with greater ease and more smoothly than when the roller is rigid. A further advantage of this swinging movement of the roller is that it slightly raises the gate, thus relieving the guide 0 from any friction which might otherwise result. cl d represent projections on the frame substantially parallel to said flange e on said roller E and adapted to strike the track A to insure said hanger being turned when the gate is swung.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 I have employed only one bracing-bar A which may be located at any suitable position vertically on the frame. This bar is secured to the frame in the manner before described; buta special spreader I is interposed between it and said frame. It is apparent that this bar may be secured to any form of gate, with the result of strengthening it, preventing it fromwarping, and providing a suitable track for the roller E.

In both the forms of gate herein shown and described (see particularly Figs. 2 and 7 the entire gate-body is bent longitudinally and held in a condition of stress by the bracingbar. In other words, the gate-frame is bowed bodily from end to end and rigidly held in that position, thus forming a very stiff and strong structure with the least weight consistent with its strength. The same bracebar, which is entirely separate from the gateframe proper, also forms the track, which slides on the roller during the longitudinal movements of the gate. In this form of the invention the main frame of the gate is also bent bodily longitudinally out of a plane and is held in a condition of stress, in this instance by the single bracing-bar As will be understood, the distance to which the central part of the main frame is deflected out of the plane of the ends is relatively small as compared. with the length of the gate-frame.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sliding and swinging gate construction, the combination with a gate-frame provided with crossing members, said gate-frame being bent bodily longitudinally out of a plane, of a bracing-bar rigidly secured to said gateframe and holding it under stress said bar forming no part of the gate-frame, and a vertically-swiveled roller engaging said bracingbar, substantially as described.

2. In a sliding and swinging gate construction, the combination with a gate-frame provided with crossing members, said frame being bodily bent longitudinally out ofa plane, of a bracing-bar connected to the ends of said frame and holding the entire gate-frame in a condition of stress, a spreader interposed between said frame and brace-bar at a point between their ends and a vertically-swivelcd roller engaging said brace-bar, substantially as described.

3. In a gate-hanger, the combination with a frame and a roller mounted upon a horizontal spindle therein, of a stationary support for said frame, and a vertical pivotal connection between said frame and said support permitting the frame and roller to turn about a vertical axis, said pivotal connection having provision for permitting said frame to swing laterally out of a vertical position in line with the longitudinal movement of the gate, substantially as described.

4. In a gate-hanger, the combination with a frame and a roller mounted upon a horizontal spindle therein, of a stationary support for said frame and connections between said frame and support permitting said frame a lateral oscillating movement about a vertical axis and a universal lateral swinging movement, substantially as described.

5. In a gate-hanger, the combination with a frame and a roller mounted upon a horizontal spindle therein, of a stationary support for said frame having an enlarged eye, a stem secured to said frame loosely engaging said eye, and a retaining device engaging said stemabove said eye, whereby said frame and roller may be oscillated upon a vertical axis and is permitted universal lateral swinging movements, substantially as described.

6. In a gate-hanger, the combination with a frame and a roller mounted upon a horizontal spindle therein, of a stationary support for said frame having a central aperture flaring upwardly and downwardly said frame being provided with a stem engaging said aperture and a retaining device engaging said stem above said support, substantially as described.

7 In a gate-hanger, the combination with a frame having a horizontal spindle, a horizontal projection above said spindle and a vertical stem above said projection, of a roller engaging said spindle, a securing-plate having apertures to engage said horizontal projection and spindle, securing means for attaching said plate to said frame, a supporting device for said frame having an aperture loosely engaged by said stem, and a retainingdevice engaging said stem above said support, substantially as described.

8. A gate-hanger of the kind described,comprising a U-shaped portion provided at one end with a stem and a hooked projection and at its other end with a bearing portion and a projection on the end thereof, a roller mounted on said bearing portion of said U-shaped portion, a plate provided with orifices adapted to fit on said projections on said U-shaped portion, means for retaining said plate on said U-shaped portion, an eye adapted to receive said stem of said Ushaped portion and a pin adapted to retain said stern in said eye, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in V -Witnesses:

M. A. MARTIN, JOHN S. C0E. 

